Just finished a great book,"The Last Lecture", by Randy Pausch. If you haven't read this book and you have kids, you don't have a choice..you must get it. This book will make you seriously look at your life and it will make you reflect on what you are doing with your life and what you need to be doing with your life. There is so much in this book.

Probably the best part was Chapter 49 entitled, "Getting in Touch with Your Crayon Box". Here is a very brief synopsis: Mr. Pausch tells of how his personality is black or white, with no gray in between. He also explains that when he wants to escape his busy adult life, he smells a box of crayons to bring him back to his childhood. Mr. Pausch says the smell of wax and paper are a heavenly combination. Every year he gives his students a crayon so if they feel overwhelmed they can take a deep breath and escape for a while.

So are you a black and white crayon person? Or do you have a gray crayon in your box? If you are like me in some parts of my life I am black and white, but in other parts I can be gray.

Are you more black and white with your kids and family and more gray at work? I am! I sometimes am more flexible with people at school than I am with my own family...pretty sad! I guess I need to stop blogging and go get a box of crayons and spend some quality time with my family...now where is that gray crayon!!

Click the title of this Blog to view the actual lecture!!!

I am back from my trip after a 6 hour unexpected layover in Dallas...Ugh!!!

The beaches were excellent but a little crowded. The food in Destin is very good. We ate at Pompano Joe's a very good seafood..a must if you are going to Destin.

It was fun watching people in Destin. What they wore, who they were with, how they interacted with their family..interesting.

When family is together on vacation I think it is only natural that you get on each others nerves..We did. I think being away from home and interacting 24/7 with family is not something that is 100% good.

Did we get on each others nerves..ohhh boy!! Did we survive? Yes. I think when 5 people including a baby spend 6 straight days together it can get stressful. Thanks God for naps and bathroom breaks.

I think what I have learned from this trip is that family is important and that if you are truly a family you can get through about anything. I think that is how our family is...because I know at times the rest of my family was probably wanting to throw something at me or worse.

Family....they are important....work on those relationships while you are home...spend quality time with family..shut the TV off...the time spent will feel like a vacation..REALLY!

I hope this blog finds you well. As I write this I am getting ready to go on a vacation to Destin, Florida. I have never been, but it sounds like a fun place to hang out for a week.

I think many of us in this world don't take time to rest and relax both mentally and physically. This applies to adults as well as kids these days.

Kids I think need down time during the summer to just take a breath and get their mind focus on fun. Throughout the school year most kids are coming to school working on at least one area of their schooling that they struggle with. I am so glad I am not a kid.

I come to work everyday and spend the day doing things I really enjoy doing...OK quit laughing..I mean it, I really enjoy what I do...

Kids need time to rest their minds and bodies and refocus. Remember school starts back on August the 12th so it is just around the corner.

I wanted to let you know that while I am in Destin I am not going to be thinking about Indian Springs, Broken Arrow, or being a principal...I am going to work on my tan...read a good book, have fun with my granddaughter on the beach in the sand and relaxing..

See you when I get back,

Larry Smith

Today was a sad day for Indian Springs. I had my first student funeral.

I have been an educator for going on 28 years and have never had to bury a student. So Sad!!!

I was really proud of my teachers who supported the family and attended the funeral. I also had a 3rd grade boy attend the funeral because he said the boy was his friend. He had tears of sadness rolling down his cheeks.

After attending this funeral today I am reminded of how fast life goes by. How we as adults need to help slow down our families activities and stop and smell the roses of life. After you read this take about 5 minutes and think how fast your life is. How many activities you have going on with your family? Are they all worth it? Are you giving up quality family time to be involved in community activities? Just a question.

Let me know your thoughts.


Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.


Mr. Smith

Yes school is over!!! Woo Hoo!!!

OK, got that out of my system. This past week I have been spending my days closing out last year and getting ready for the year to come. School never stops!!!

For the past 9 years the schools I have been a principal of have had a theme for the year. Last years theme was a little out there, Indian Springs Filling Station, but it was alot of fun. This coming year our theme will be a lot of fun for the kids.

People ask me why I do themes. Well, the reason is to make school a fun place to come to and to make the school experience unexpected. I don't know how many times last year people would come into the office and ask what the tires were for, or why did we have gas cans hanging from the ceiling.

Kids need a fun place to go during the day. School can be a place for a lot of kids where the things you do throughout the whole day are difficult. I hate that, but that is reality.

I can remember when I was in school, I wasn't very good in math. I hated the time during the day when math time arrived. I think during that time I would begin to misbehave or even become ill!! Really!!!

So are you wanting to know what next years theme is? Did I tell you it is going to be a lot of fun?

Next years theme is a Circus Theme! Indian Springs Elementary..the Greatest School on Earth!!!